SWEETWATER HAPPY HOUR
Drinks
$3 House Chardonnay, Merlot, House wells, and Beer on Tap:
Moose Drool Brown Ale, Lagunitas IPA, Firestone Double Barrel Ale, Gordon Biersch Pilsner, Sierra Nevada Summerfest, Steelhead Extra Pale Ale
Food
$5 appetizers
-Shoestring Fries, Chips & Dip, Rings and Things (Calamari), The Big Easy (Prawns), Sliders, St. Louis Ribs, The Choke (Artichokes), Sweet potato fries, Oysters
Sweetwater Hours of Happiness
Monday through Wednesday: 2:00PM to Close
Thursday through Saturday: 2:00PM - 6:00PM.
Two for one "Power Hour" from Midnight - 1:00AM (except Friday)
Friday Night "Power Hour": All drinks buy one get one free 9:00PM - 10:00PM
Sunday Pint Night: $2 beers from 2:00PM to Close
Location
1901 S Street - Sacramento, CA. 95811
916-731-8857
My Happy Hour Experience
After a rough day at work, our happy hour group headed to a nearby watering hole around 5:30 on a Wednesday. After ordering one drink, happy hour, which ended at 6 at this particular establishment, was over... Feeling unsatisfied, we decided to drive to Sweetwater. When we walked in, the place seemed somewhat busy, but with so much seating and options on where to sit, it didn't have the overcrowded feel (happy hour prices were extended to the whole restaurant and not just the bar area). We found a spot close to the bar and the waitress was nice to point out the happy hour specials. With every appetizer being priced at $5, we wondered if the shoestring fries (reg. price $4) were now bumped up in price to $5. We didn't ask for a clarification since we planned on trying the other more unique apps. (On a side note - the fries are delicious with pesto and a bit of chili similar to Jack's Urban fries).
For drinks, we settled on getting the Big Sky Moose Drool and the Firestone
and for food we decided to split an order of Calamari, normally priced at $8, and the sweet potato fries. While waiting for our drinks and food, we noticed that there was an interactive trivia game on the main tv screen behind the bar. We tried to check out the score of the basketball game on the smaller screen, but it was rather difficult to get a glimpse from our seats next to the window. Even with the variety of seating, the placement of their smaller TV only makes it easy for a few patrons near the bar to enjoy. Our calamari arrived rather quickly and we were pleasantly surprised by the portion size. The calamari had an excellent texture to it and the fried jalapeños scattered throughout was an excellent touch. The chipotle aoli packed great flavor for a dipping sauce, but the perplexing item on the plate was the fried lemon slices. Like all typical calamari dishes, a wedge of lemon is customary, but Sweetwater serves them fried and in thick slices. Were we supposed to eat them?
My friend gave it a shot and the end result was much expected - with the rind so thick, it was pretty inedible. We liked the idea, but perhaps frying thinner slices or even just leaving it in typical sliced wedge form would work better. The sweet potato fries were pretty basic, but cooked well and had a nice crunch.Recommendation
From Monday through Wednesday, Sweetwater with it's all night happy hour should definitely be on your radar. The place may not be the best for watching sporting events, but if you are looking for a spacious spot to hang out with a group, there is plenty of room and the outdoor seating area is a nice place to enjoy some late afternoon libations.
If you're into trivia, there's a good chance you can get your fix here. The questions looked pretty intense and interesting, but for me, the last thing I wanted to do after work was to concentrate on screen text. As for drinks, you can't complain about all of the happy hour drinks at $3, especially the stellar selection of draft beer. I will definitely come back, and look forward to trying the Sunday Pint Night.
